Bullitt County Kentucky | swne - 4/10/2013 06:14
As tjim said, "Farmer" kind of has a negative connotation to most non ag people. Although not so much lately. If I know I'm around non ag people I usually say I'm in production agriculture. I sometimes write "Ag Production Specialist" when asked what my occupation is on a form.
I don't mind saying I'm a farmer or being called one but it doesn't sound as business oriented. Look at other occupations, they give all kinds of important sounding names to just average jobs. I remember someone telling me about a worker at a feedlot. He was on the maintenance crew and didn't like his job and wanted to quit. The boss said he would promote him to "maintenace engineer". The guy came back to his job doing the same thing as he had done before but was just as happy as could be because he felt important being called an engineer.
Although there is no carved in stone written protocol so far as I know, to claim a title of "engineer" one should hold an engineering degree. That said, I've crossed paths with many an engineer (with degree) that I'd hesitate to call an engineer. That's by applying the same logic; I park my car in a garage. If I go stand in the garage, am I a car? Just going through the motions doesn't garner the respect and ability that a title indicates.
I worked for 40+ years for a contractor that paid for any continuing education programs we wanted to participate in, regardless of how it applied to our trade, or even if it applied at all. With that, I've taken full advantage of the opportunity. First degree program I completed was in structural engineering. There were countless fellow students that knew "book smarts" in the subject that couldn't "engineer" their way out of a wet paper bag. To me, you EARN the title of engineer by FIRST completing a degree, THEN applying the knowledge in the real world, not just the theoretical world. And people shouldn't diminish the efforts of others by laying claim to a title that isn't a true indication of their background. But that's just me..... |
Farmer
